Breaks went out

[pr0duc3r]

91 Pontiac GA 2.3 liter (not the OH or whatevr)

n00b


Driving home today and the break light came on. Then the ses light came on(changin catalytic tomorrow) if that has anything to do with the break light.....put break fluid in the car, cause the resovoir was emtpy havent drove it n e where but i pumped the breaks, the first pump was really hard, 2 3 and so on were all the way but soft.. When i bought the car the breaks seemed a lil off but they workd and this weekend im leaving so i need breaks LOL Plz any thing will help...Feel like a bum HA HA HA


Breaks go all the way to the floor before it grabs any solutions?


1. breaks and rotors are fine so i figure its gotta be a line somewhere
2. what else could it be besides a line

[SE2000]

Could be a flex line or a wheel cylinder. Most likely a rear BRAKE cylinder in the drum. Check under car for wheel that looks wet

[88Grandamturbo]

I agree with se2000, you could have popped a brake cylinder in your rear wheels, also check your rubber hose lines that run from the hard line to your cylinders and calipers. I know that older rubber hoses pop fairly easily too from age and use.

[pr0duc3r]

left rear tire was soaked this morning, gonna attempt the brake cylinder now

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by pr0duc3r
left rear tire was soaked this morning, gonna attempt the brake cylinder now
Don't know for the '88, but for the '94 thru '98 (like my '96), that wheel cylinder is a royal PITA to remove!
Even accessing the torx bolt is mpossible with normal tools.
Seems like it would be easier to remove the entire friggin' hub/backing plate assembly than just remove the wheel cylnder.

And, you really should do both rear drums, with new cylinders and shoes.

Good luck.
-Rick

[SE2000]

Unless the cylinder is badly pitted or scored, you use a special hone tool on a drill to clean it up and then get new seals. It would be best to do both sides as your brake shoes probally got soaked and you should replace them in pairs. And of course the by the way, since you have to bleed the system and moisture probally cause your problem, you might as well replace all the fluid, you car is old enough that your brake fluid is contaminated.

[pr0duc3r]

Thank you for all the help, but damn money ran out last night lol so im so screwed i did get the one wheel cylinder this mornig and im gonna put it on tonitie i dont have an extra 30 for the shoes and the other cylinder......Taking Donotions....Lol....THANKS AGAIN for the help

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by pr0duc3r
Thank you for all the help, but damn money ran out last night ....
You canNOT use those brake fluid contaminated shoes!!!

You won't stop for sh!t, and you can easily lose control.

Keep the car in the driveway 'til you can replace the shoes.
The life you save may be somebody you care about.

Peace,
-Rick

[pr0duc3r]

Give me the steps of what i should do and get please so i can knock these out today

[Brad97GS]

Originally posted by rixGAphx
Don't know for the '88, but for the '94 thru '98 (like my '96), that wheel cylinder is a royal PITA to remove!
Even accessing the torx bolt is mpossible with normal tools.
Seems like it would be easier to remove the entire friggin' hub/backing plate assembly than just remove the wheel cylnder.

And, you really should do both rear drums, with new cylinders and shoes.

Good luck.
-Rick

Yep, they are just as bad. When we replaced the wheel cylinder on my old '89, I thought at first that it'd be impossible to get it out without removing the hub. We were successful after a lot of tugging and maneuvering...

Of course it's been 7 years, and I'm not really sure how we were able to get it out anymore. And braking was tricky when the wheel cylinder went out - it almost made my car spin out! Not good, as I was driving on a crowded Illinois highway...

[pr0duc3r]

We gave up on just trying to take the cylinder out, we took off tha whole hub it wasnt that bad DRUM BRAKES SUCK

[rainbowbriteboy]

i know this is an old post but, two days ago i had to replace my cylinders....they are a PITA to get out of a 96, had to get two special tools which wasnt badly priced and we just knocked it out of there. I have pics of it in one of my latest post. I had to get new shoes for it too regaurdless because there was nothing left on my shoes....bare metal.

Drum brakes do suck alot, but keeps us going right?